Planning Permission Ireland

House design guide

What Clare wants your home to look like

Clare County Council requires new rural houses and extensions to blend seamlessly into their natural surroundings by respecting local traditional forms and landscape contours. Homeowners should build simple, well-proportioned homes that use native planting and local materials, while avoiding intrusive, elevated, or suburban-style designs.

Accepted house types & forms

single-storey cottage farmhousetwo-storey farmhousesingle-storey farm dwelling with associated stone outbuildingsdormer cottage (one-and-a-half storeys)hipped roof cottagethe long farmhousesimple linear forms

What they want to see

Encouraged by the guide

  • Siting along contours(13, 24)

    Houses should hug the natural contours of the land to integrate with the terrain and seek natural shelter from extreme weather.

  • Orientation for solar gain(13, 35, 37)

    Orientate the building with main living spaces facing south or along the sun's path to maximize natural light and heat.

  • Preserving and planting native vegetation(35, 39, 84)

    Retain existing mature trees, hedgerows, and rock outcrops. Plant native deciduous species such as hawthorn, ash, birch, and oak.

  • Using traditional local materials(29, 74)

    Incorporate traditional materials such as locally quarried stone, lime render, and traditional slates (Liscannor/Moher or Killaloe/Broadford slates).

  • Modest proportions and simple pitches(54)

    Aim for low eaves heights, simple plan forms, and a traditional roof pitch of between 35 and 55 degrees.

  • Subservient extensions(71)

    Extensions should be located discreetly to the rear or side and remain secondary/subservient to the main building, continuing its long axis.

What gets refused

Discouraged by the guide

  • Hilltop and ridge line development(35, 36)

    Avoid high, prominent, and exposed sites or hillcrests that break the skyline and scar the natural landscape.

  • Foreign suburban bungalows(60, 61)

    Imported suburban-style catalogue bungalows with low pitched roofs, disproportionate wide windows, and synthetic finishes are discouraged.

  • Flat or mansard roofs(53, 71)

    Flat roofs or mansard roof configurations should generally be avoided on rural houses or extensions.

  • Removing native boundaries(35, 43)

    Avoid removing natural hedgerows, stone walls, or earthen banks to accommodate entrances, as this degrades the rural character.

  • Over-elaborate conservatories(75)

    Do not add overly elaborate or complex conservatories to simple traditional structures, and avoid north-facing or prominent front-elevation locations.

  • Fussy synthetic details(55, 74)

    Avoid using modern synthetic finishes like uPVC, plastic cladding, and overly complex, fussy architectural details on traditional structures.

Materials & finishes

  • Moher/Liscannor slate
  • Killaloe/Portroe or Broadford slate
  • locally quarried stone
  • lime plaster and render
  • limestone rubble (North Clare)
  • shale (West Clare)
  • sandstone (East Clare)
  • timber
  • painted render with a colour wash
  • whitethorn hedge

Roofs & form

  • simple linear plan form
  • pitched roof with 35-55 degree pitch
  • low eaves height
  • hipped roof
  • one and a half storeys (dormer cottage form)
  • single storey
  • modest scale maintained throughout
  • symmetry in window and door placement

Siting & landscape

  • hug the contours of the site
  • set back from the immediate road frontage
  • avoid breaking the skyline or waterline
  • preserve and integrate existing mature trees, hedgerows, walls, and rock outcrops
  • avoid elevated, prominent hilltops and ridge lines
  • orientate to maximize direct sunlight and shelter
  • consolidate existing groups of buildings to avoid linear sprawl or ribbon development

Auto-generated summary of clare rural house design guide 5486 — read the official source ↗. Last updated 22 June 2026.

Based on: Page 13, Page 24, Page 25, Page 27, Page 29, Page 30, Page 35, Page 36, Page 37, Page 39, Page 41, Page 42, Page 43, Page 51, Page 53, Page 54, Page 55, Page 60, Page 61, Page 71, Page 74, Page 75, Page 84.

For information only — not legal or planning advice. Always confirm requirements with Clare County Council and a qualified professional before relying on them.